The Harris-Trump Showdown

Election Tension: A Harris-Trump Showdown for America’s Future

In the modern world, there are no countries as important as the United States of America. The US has shaped international relations and led the world order for decades, and still goes relatively unrivalled. For the better or for the worse, that may not remain the case any longer. Political polarisation and instability has been evident in the country for years, but the 2024 US elections may be a momentous pivot point. 

The heated competition between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump has put all eyes on what seemed to be a set race. Before Joe Biden stepped down as the Democratic nominee, Former President Trump commanded what might have been a landslide victory, leading by 6% in a CNN poll conducted at the end of June - right after President Biden’s disastrous debate performance. As of writing, The Economist puts them neck and neck in its poll, while The New York Times puts Mr Trump 2 points ahead.

The Harris campaign is still in its nascent stages, but, by following Vice President Harris through her career as a prosecutor and the attorney-general of California and through the few speeches she made during her campaign, we can gauge her policies. Vice President Harris has run for president before, taking part in the 2020 Democratic primary, dropping out early due to her radical, left wing policies and statements, however, her stance has evolved since then, taking the form of a more centrist stance. While continuing many of President Biden's promises, she is also set to establish her own personality. 

The case for Vice President Harris depends on four main pillars. The first being her support for abortion. This can turn into a winning issue, as 63% of Americans support abortion in most or all cases according to the Pew Research Center. If peddled correctly, this can turn into a winning issue for the Vice-President. Her “reproductive freedoms tour”, where she visited many states and even an abortion clinic, has invigorated many left-affiliating citizens who support its legalisation and codification. 

Her support towards climate change can also win Vice President Harris a plethora of votes. According to the Pew Research Center, two thirds of American citizens believe that the government is doing too little to combat global warming. By being part of one of the most climate-friendly administrations in America yet, Harris has shown a strong portfolio in the fight against climate change. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is a prime example. The bill, supported by the Vice-President, implemented one of the largest subsidy schemes for renewable resource generation and electric vehicles (EVs) in the world. This has emboldened her credentials, and these can be further expanded by her.

Source: Pew Research Center

Another case as to why Harris should become the President should be her foreign policy. She aims to continue the Biden administration's policy of supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia with military and humanitarian aid. This can greatly help the country battle their invaders. At the same time, she has taken a more progressive view towards Israel’s war in Gaza. While Vice President Harris supports Israel and its right to defend itself, she has noted that “how it does so, matters”. She also expressed “serious concern” in her meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netenyahu. At the same time, Vice President Harris is China-sceptic, along with President Trump. These policies will earn her support outside her liberal base, due to the overreaching despise for China in the United States. Her policies towards NATO are also more welcoming as she is generally well-liked by Europe, especially compared to President Trump, leading to more constructive debate and a stronger NATO. This foreign policy is more concrete than President Trump’s.

Vice President Harris can also proclaim to be a strong proponent of democracy. With her confirmation of the 2020 election results on January 6th, regardless of President Trump’s refusal to cede and the riots which took place around the Capitol building. As a part of the Biden administration, she has not had a role in the prosecution of the rioters, but the fact that she has stood up for democracy in the United States can win her many votes. The fact that she is not President Trump may also win her some votes from the more centrist parts of the Republican party. 

However, Vice President Harris has her drawbacks. Even after moderating her stance on some issues, many Democrats and Republicans still perceive her as one of the most liberal candidates for President yet. She will have to shake this perception by adopting more centrist policies, while also pleasing her liberal base. This will be a complicated balancing act and requires Vice President Harris to be shrewd in choosing her policies as President.

The Trump campaign, however, has made itself prominent and has created a cult following in the Republican party. The party, and most in it, will follow his every command. His policies are also nothing less than Vice President Harris’s, while differing quite largely, he has ensured that this is not like his last victory. President Trump wants to ensure that, if he wins, this term will be different from the haphazard and inconsistent statements of his last. The case for President Trump rests on three main pillars, being, the economy, immigration and crime.

Firstly, his economic policy is better suited to win the hearts of American citizens. They attribute the high inflation in the United States, along with rising housing crises and cost of living with the Biden administration. This will be carried against Vice President Harris; although she did not actively contribute much to the economic policies of the country. This will help President Trump secure his second term as President. The economy and inflation is the most important issue for Americans, with 62% saying that it is a very big problem, and only 1% saying that it is not a problem at all, according to the Pew Research Center. Though Americans usually are not single-issue voters, the fact that President Trump is far ahead of Vice President Harris in this aspect will lead to many undecided voters voting for the former President. 

President Trump’s vocal stance on immigration may also earn him many votes. The same Pew Research Center poll shows that 51% of the population thinks that illegal immigration is a very big issue. To this effect, President Trump’s policies are what Americans want to hear. Many Democrats, as well as Republicans, believe that illegal immigration is a major issue, especially post-COVID 19. Illegal immigration is on the rise, but, as border Czar, Vice President Harris has done little to curb this migration. She has even chosen not to visit the border. 

Lastly, President Trump has a leg up as being tough on crime. He has, at numerous times, pushed this stance, chiefly against Vice President Harris, who he claims, has let many criminals go free during her time as a prosecutor and Attorney General for the state of California. She has also been seen by Americans as weak on crime due to her connections to the Biden administration.

However, President Trump is not widely popular outside his base, and has created a toxic environment. People either hate him or love him, there is no middle ground. That is his one weakness, the former President cannot convert many centrists to his side, which might well cost him the election.

This year’s election in November has been endlessly debated about and has covered every nook and cranny of media. It may end up being one of the most important in the world yet. The two candidates have finally stated their stances and the phoney race has ended. Whoever wins, will have their advantages and drawbacks, but then again, so does every candidate in every election. The only issue here is, this is the one election where minor mistakes can lead to global ramifications.